Overview

Image Processing

Images can be processed to create quality 2D and 3D data deliverables, such as Dense Point Clouds (DPC), Digital Surface Models (DSM) and Orthophotos.

Requirements:

Point Clouds from Images option.

Here you can do the following:

Here you can do the following:

No.	Name	Description
1.	Overview Image	Create a fast overview image from the selected Image Group.
2.	Image Processing Settings	Adjust the Image processing settings for achieving best possible results.
3.	Image Processing Workflow	Orientation of the Images - Calculate the exterior and interior orientation of images. Marking of Control Points - Mark Ground Control Points (GCP) or Check Points (CP), before or after running the orientation.Optimisation of the Orientation - Update the exterior and/or interior orientation of images, after changing either the control points (adding, removing or adjusting them) or the camera calibration settings.Generation of the Dense Point Cloud - Create the DPC. If images are not oriented, an orientation is computed first.Filtering of the Dense Point Cloud - Update the DPC after changing the DPC settings, to create a filtered improved version.Generation of the DSM & Orthophoto - Create the DSM and the orthophoto. If the orientation and DPC are not stored, they are computed first.
4.	Image Processing Report	Explore the details.
5.	Task Manager	View the progress of the processing tasks for all the created projects.
6.	Export Image Processing Results	Export deliverables in various format files.
7.	Processing Considerations	Helps with understanding which component has an impact on processing.

Orientation of the Images - Calculate the exterior and interior orientation of images.
Marking of Control Points - Mark Ground Control Points (GCP) or Check Points (CP), before or after running the orientation.
Optimisation of the Orientation - Update the exterior and/or interior orientation of images, after changing either the control points (adding, removing or adjusting them) or the camera calibration settings.
Generation of the Dense Point Cloud - Create the DPC. If images are not oriented, an orientation is computed first.
Filtering of the Dense Point Cloud - Update the DPC after changing the DPC settings, to create a filtered improved version.
Generation of the DSM & Orthophoto - Create the DSM and the orthophoto. If the orientation and DPC are not stored, they are computed first.

The processing procedure includes three core steps:

The processing procedure includes three core steps:

1.	Orientation of the Images
2.	Generation of the Dense Point Cloud
3.	Generation of the DSM & Orthophoto

Some further processes can be carried out if necessary.

There are two approaches to process image data:

There are two approaches to process image data:

Step-by-Step - Process each task manually, step-by-step, and store it. This allows a better control on the results. Once stored, the output of each step (sparse point cloud, dense point cloud, DSM & Orthophoto) is available in the view and the numerical results in the inspector.

Step-by-Step

Onestep - Choose the end data result, such as DPC or DSM & Orthophoto, and all individual tasks are computed automatically.

Onestep

Imaging Inspector

Imaging Inspector

From the Inspector > Imaging tab, you can access Imaging Results. The view is split into two panes, the results pane and the Task pane:

Inspector

Imaging

Image Acquisition Suggestions

In order to get a good quality result, it is of main importance to acquire the data set to be processed correctly. A poor quality data set may lead to poor results or even to failed processes.

The following guidelines are recommended for a good outcome:

The following guidelines are recommended for a good outcome:

Use digital cameras with a fixed lens, or keep it fixed throughout the acquiring phase.
Use focal lengths between 20 mm and 80 mm (in 35 mm equivalent).
Use 70%-80% forward overlap and 65%-80% side overlap.
Avoid blurry images.
Avoid low textured, moving or reflective objects.
Avoid regions with shadows.
Do not manipulate original images, for example crop or rotate them.
Use control points to improve the orientation.
Use check points to assess results accuracy.

Fisheye, ultra-wide and macro lenses as well as hyperspectral images are currently not supported.

Corrections for the rolling shutter effect are currently not supported.